Corporate Relations Manager

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES • Kansas City, MO

37d • $74,401 - $80,000

About The Position

The Corporate Relations Manager (CRM) is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and securing new corporate partnerships and sponsorships to further the mission of the VFW Foundation. This strategic, externally focused position involves fostering high-level relationships with corporate executives, aligning their philanthropic goals with Foundation initiatives, and supporting sustainable revenue growth. The Corporate Relations Manager collaborates closely with internal teams to develop customized proposals and manages a dynamic pipeline of corporate prospects to achieve annual revenue objectives. This role is essential to advancing the Foundation's strategic priorities for corporate engagement and ensuring consistent revenue growth across programs, campaigns, and signature events such as the VFW National Convention and corporate sponsorship initiatives. Additionally, the Corporate Relations Manager reports to the Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations and partners with the Corporate Accounts Manager (CAM) to provide seamless continuity from initial cultivation through to partnership fulfillment. The CRM serves as the lead strategist for prospect identification and cultivation, responsible for securing new corporate partners and then coordinating with the CAM for long-term stewardship and renewal. This position drives proactive engagement through outreach campaigns, targeted prospect research, and proposal development to expand corporate revenue channels.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit management, communications, or related area (Master’s a plus). Relevant experience may substitute for a degree.
• 5–7 years of demonstrated success in corporate fundraising, sponsorship sales, or business development.
• Proven ability to close five- and six-figure sponsorships or philanthropic gifts.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and executive presence.
• Familiarity with CSR trends, corporate foundation giving, and sponsorship valuation strategies.
• Proficiency in CRM systems and Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Salesforce or Bloomerang a plus.
• Passion for the mission of supporting veterans, service members, and their families.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills, including ability to build business cases that demonstrate ROI for corporate partners.
• Experience leveraging digital prospecting and market-intelligence tools (e.g., LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Candid, Winmo) to identify and qualify corporate leads.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic outreach to prospective corporate donors to secure sponsorships, cause-marketing, and co-branded campaigns that elevate the Foundation’s visibility and impact.
• Develop and execute corporate development strategies to secure multi-year and multi-channel partnerships.
• Conduct detailed research on prospective sponsors, identifying alignment with Foundation goals, and qualifying them for engagement.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior executives, CSR officers, and corporate foundations.
• Prepare customized proposals, pitch decks, and activation plans that reflect corporate priorities and brand goals.
• Represent the Foundation at key events (philanthropic, industry, veteran-related) to build relationships and expand influence.
• Establish and maintain quarterly outreach benchmarks and manage a robust pipeline ensuring continuous prospect generation.
• Collaborate with the Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations to align outreach with Foundation-wide priorities.
• Work closely with the Corporate Accounts Manager to transition secured partners into long-term, high-value accounts.
• Track outreach, meeting follow-ups, and proposal submissions through the Foundation’s CRM system.
• Coordinate regular pipeline and partnership reviews with the CAM, Director, and Marketing team to align messaging, sponsorship deliverables, and recognition schedules.
• Collaborate with the CAM to identify cross-sell or upsell opportunities among existing partners.
• Work with the Communications team to measure post-campaign visibility and provide data-driven reports on ROI for partners.
• Maintain regular communication with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment of corporate strategies and outcomes.
• Provide quarterly and ad-hoc performance reports to the Director, detailing outreach outcomes, partnership ROI, and recommendations for growth.

Benefits

• The VFW Foundation offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Some relocation allowance may be available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees